It's with a heavier heart than usual (normally it's as light as a sparrow!) that I tell you Rebellion's upcoming Aliens vs Predator has been "refused classification" in Australia. Which is as good as a ban.

Should have seen this coming a mile away. It's shaping up to be an incredibly gory game, and Australia's Classification Board - hamstrung by the country's lack of an adults-only game rating - simply couldn't let it slide as an MA15+ title.

Sega Australia's Vispi Bhopti tells us "SEGA Australia can today confirm that the initial submission of Aliens vs Predator has been Refused Classification by the Classification Operations Board of Australia. We will continue to investigate all options available to us, including the possibility of appeal".

That means there'll either be an appeal ("hey, you let the first two AvP games in!"), or the less palatable option, a reduction in the game's more visceral aspects.